Wetting composition

Abstract

The invention relates to a wetting composition comprising a surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant in combination with from 10 to less than 50 wt % of at least one C10 to C14 alcohol and 10 to 30 wt % of a C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent, to methods for using the wetting composition and products containing the wetting composition.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wetting agent suitable for addition to an aqueous liquid to reduce the surface tension of the aqueous liquid, wherein the wetting agent is in the form of a liquid composition consisting of:
 (a) 10 to less than 50 wt % of one or more C10-C14 alcohol, wherein the C10-C14 alcohol is a primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohol having a linear or branched C10-C14 hydrocarbon chain;   (b) 10 to 30 wt % of one or more C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent selected from the group consisting of a C1-C3 alkyl ester of lactic acid, an alkylene glycol, an ether of an alkylene glycol, ethoxy butanol, tert-butanol, tert-amyl alcohol, triethanolamine, 2-butoxyethanol, and mixtures thereof;   (c) 20 to 60 wt % of one or more surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant;   (d) 0 to 25 wt % water; and   (e) 0 to 10 wt % other additives;   wherein the composition comprises a mixture of a C12 alcohol and a C14 alcohol.   
     
     
         2 . The wetting agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 10 to 35 wt % of one or more C10-C14 alcohol. 
     
     
         3 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the relative proportion of C12 alcohol to C14 alcohol in the mixture is in the range of from 50:50 to 90:10 by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a C10 alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 10 to 25 wt % of one or more C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent. 
     
     
         6 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent is selected from ethyl lactate, 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a surfactant selected from an alcohol alkoxylate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate and a benzyl alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactant, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a surfactant mixture of an alcohol alkoxylate and an alkylbenzene sulfonate. 
     
     
         9 . The wetting agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises up to 10 wt % water. 
     
     
         10 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent is in the form of a liquid composition consisting of:
 (a) 10 to less than 40 wt % of one or more C10-C14 alcohol;   (b) 10 to 30 wt % of one or more C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent selected from ethyl lactate, 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol;   (c) 40 to 50 wt % of one or more surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant;   (d) 0 to 25 wt % water; and   (e) 0 to 10 wt % other additives.   
     
     
         11 . The wetting agent of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more C4-C6 oxygen containing co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethoxy butanol, tert-butanol, tert-amyl alcohol, triethanolamine, 2-butoxyethanol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method of lowering the surface tension of water, the method comprising the step of adding the wetting agent of  claim 1  to the water, wherein the reduction of surface tension increases with the amount of wetting agent that is added. 
     
     
         13 . A method of lowering the surface tension of an aqueous-based resin, the method comprising the step of adding the wetting agent of  claim 1  to the aqueous-based resin, wherein the reduction of surface tension increases with the amount of wetting agent that is added. 
     
     
         14 . A method of lowering the surface tension of an aqueous agricultural composition, the method comprising the step of adding the wetting agent of  claim 1  to the aqueous agricultural composition, wherein the reduction of surface tension increases with the amount of wetting agent that is added. 
     
     
         15 . A method of lowering the surface tension of an aqueous liquid, the method comprising the step of adding the wetting agent of  claim 1  to the aqueous liquid, wherein the reduction of surface tension increases with the amount of wetting agent that is added. 
     
     
         16 . A method of wetting a low energy surface with a relatively high surface energy liquid, the method comprising the step of:
 adding the wetting agent according to  claim 1  to the relatively high surface energy liquid; and   contacting the low energy surface with the relatively high surface energy liquid comprising the wetting composition.